Introduction to Social Work Syllabus for 2015-2016
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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

SOCW-2361-002 Introduction to Social Work

Prerequisites

Course Description

Development of the philosophy and practice of social work in the United States; survey of the fields and techniques of social work; attention given to requirements for graduate training and social work.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Required text:  DuBois, B & Miley, K.K. (2014).  Social work:  An Empowering Profession. (8^th edition).  Boston, MA:  Pearson.

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\ Required autobiography:  Walls, Jeanette (2005).  The Glass Castle.  New York, NY:  Scribner.

Supplies

\ Paper, pens, pencils.  Students also need access to a reliable computer with internet, a computer printer and paper.

Student Performance

\ Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

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• \ Discuss the development of social welfare in the U.S.
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• \ Discuss the development of social work as a recognized profession.
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• \ Appreciate the broad range of professional responsibilities and skills that social workers utilize in their daily interactions with clients.
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• \ Demonstrate familiarity with National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and how it guides decision-making.
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• \ Identify multiple social and economic factors that influence or affect the behavior of individuals, groups, and communities.
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• \ Understand that human behavior is influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors.
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• \ Understand the process for becoming a professional social worker.
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• \ Understand and appreciate the concept of generalist practice as it applies to social workers at the bachelor’s level.
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• \ Demonstrate an increased understanding of the issues relating to working with diverse populations.
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• \ Recognize and evaluate his or her value system as related to providing social work services to diverse populations.
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• \ Recognize the global context of social work practice.
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• \ Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills that reflect the student’s ability to comprehend material.
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• \ Demonstrate the ability to utilize critical thinking skills.
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

• Interaction and discussion are encouraged; learning is greatly facilitated by the active participation of all class members.
•  An atmosphere of mutual respect is expected as well as punctuality, attentiveness, and consistent attendance.  Attentiveness means being awake, being focused on class activities, not engaging in extensive private conversations, not reading non-class materials, not leaving the classroom frequently, and not using a cell phone or texting.
• Cell phones are not to be used in class.  This means that there will be no texting, checking messages, accepting or making calls during class time (including lectures, guest speakers, films, or any other activities going on during class).  Students using cell phones during class may be counted absent.  If you have an emergency, and must make a call or check your phone during class, then discuss it with your instructor before class for permission. 

 

Scholastic Honesty: 

It is the responsibility of students and instructors to help maintain scholastic integrity by refusing to participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty.  This listing is not exclusive of any other acts that may reasonably be said to constitute scholastic dishonesty:  acquiring or providing information for any assigned work or examination from any unauthorized source, informing others of the content of any examination prior to the time the exam is given in subsequent sections of the course, plagiarism (copying from a source without documenting and crediting the source), submission of a paper that is substantially the same for two courses or written by someone else.

Grading Criteria

Assessment of student progress will be based on various assignments that are designed to demonstrate the student’s critical thinking skills as well as the ability to apply knowledge learned in the classroom.

Exams (300 points)

There will be two examinations during the semester.  Material for exams will be drawn from the required text, lectures, videos, and guest speakers. Each exam is worth 150 points, and both will count in your average.  There is no opportunity to drop an exam score.   You will need to bring your own scantron for each exam. Missing an exam is not recommended, but will sometimes cannot be helped. Students have one week to make up the exam, to be scheduled with the instructor. Make-up exams can only be taken if the absence is excused. Although make-up exams will cover the same subject matter and chapters, make-up exams may not be identical to the original exams, and may contain a higher percentage of more difficult questions. MAKEUP EXAMS MUST BE SCHEDULED WITH ME PRIOR TO EXAM DATE, AND FOR A VALID REASON (this is at my discretion). DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE EXAM TO SPEAK WITH ME. 

Quizzes:  (100 points)

There will be 10 quizzes, given randomly (possibly nightly) on material presented in class (lectures, videos, presentations) as well as book material.  There will not be a possibility of making these grades up if you are not in class that night. 

Assignments:  (500 points)

Select assignments turned in late will be accepted, up to 5 working days late. There will be 1 point a day deducted for each working day late.  There is not an opportunity to make up, or turn in late, the scientific method quiz, group project, Glass Castle, Favorite Speaker, or Volunteer hours/paper.  

Assignments should be typed using APA (American Psychological Association) formatting.  Please visit the Writers Corner for assistance.   Assignments should be 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1” margins.  APA includes the use of a cover sheet and reference sheet.  Please see www.apastyle.org, or www.purdueowl.com for more information.  This is the style writing you will be expected to use in the remainder of your social work career, get used to it now.  It will be difficult to incorporate into every assignment, but do your best.  The minimum number of required pages should be full pages.   For example, if the paper is to be three to four pages, it should be a minimum of three full pages.  I highly recommend that you use spell check and grammar check on your computer.

All assignments can be submitted via blackboard in our course, or via email.  If papers are turned in, they should be stapled. 

All assignments should be completed as the syllabus details. Assignments may be printed and presented, or emailed on the due date. 

1) Scientific Method Quiz (50 points)  Students must be able to demonstrate knowledge of scientific method,including reading graphs.  There will be a 10 question, multiple choice, online exam.  

2)Movie Review (50 points)  

Each student should select a movie to watch. Possible selections: 

Silver Linings Play book

Hunger Games

Divergent (et.al)

The Fault in our Stars

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

I Am Sam

Losing Isaiah

White Oleander

Radio 

50 Shades

Mrs. Doubtfire

Juno

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

Osage County

White and Black

Still Alice

(movie of your choice-speak to me with ideas)

Then:

a Outline the movie (provide the back story)

b Pick the character to be your client (give their back story; develop the character)

c using the goals and purposes of social work, the six core values of social work ethics, diversity and macro/mezzo/micro concepts, write a reaction paper relating to the your character incorporating at least three of these areas (goals and purpose, core values, ethics, diversity, level, etc.) WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS  THEIR SOCIAL WORKER.

This paper should be a minimum of 3 pages.   

3)Self Assessment (100 points)

Complete a self-assessment looking at dominate characteristics, power, privilege, or oppression and the role they have played in your life.  Refer the ISMS in Chapter 6.  Your will need to chosat least four traits/characteristics from sex, gender, race, class/SES, sexual orientation, religion, age, education, and explore how you have been advantaged or disadvantaged by how you are treated in society.  YOU MUST CHOOSE TRAITS FROM THIS LIST.  Use hte article by Michael Spencer as a guide in how to approach this assignment.  

 Hint:  Do not simply focus on autobiographical information.  The key is looking at your traits and how you have either been rewarded, oppressed, or a combination of both because of who you are.  Also, do not focus on how you rate yourself, but rather in terms of how others see you and treat you, based on your characteristics.  Your paper should be three to four pages, double-spaced.  This assignment is the first of self reflection and values analysis.  50 points

4) Group Project (50 points)

Students will work in groups of 3-4, and will create a presentation that focuses on a single area of social work.  Some possibilities include (but are not limited to):

• child welfare (adoption, foster care, child protection, family preservation)
• school social work
• nursing home, assisted living, adult day care
• medical, mental health social work
• disability services
• adult protection
• counseling

Your presentations should be no more than 20 minutes, using power point, prezi, or other media, to present the following information to your peers:

• population served, including diversity
• setting  you find these social workers, host/primary, public/private, sectarian/nonsectarian, 
• educational level, and licensure required (BSW, MSW, LCSW), does it require or prefer social work
• responsibilities, duties, team member
• how they might engage in micro, mezzo, macro level social work
• services offered, service delivery issues
• where does funding come from (federal, state, donations, grants, etc.)
• salary range

•  Your grade will include a review of your participation by your group members, a review from your peers of your presentation, as well as instructor review.  Include reference sheet. Interviews with local social workers are encouraged. 

5)Favorite Speaker Response Paper (50 points)

Social workers from the community may come to speak to the class.  At the end of the semester each student will write a 1-2 page paper about their favorite speaker during the semester.  It is recommended to take notes after a speaker comes, to use when writing the response paper.  The student will include the speaker’s name, title, agency, why they chose that speaker, what they learned from the speaker, how they might use the information in the future, along with any additional information regarding the speaker.  

6)Volunteer Experiences/Service Learning (100 points)

Part of learning to be a social worker is getting out in the community and volunteering. Each student is required to volunteer 4 hours during this semester at a social service agency. The instructor can help the student connect with various agencies that match the student’s interest, there is a list in blackboard.  

During the volunteer work the student will keep a log of the volunteer time and the student must have someone at the agency sign off on the hours.

Social responsibility is an ethical structure which suggests that an individual has an obligation to act for the benefit of society as a whole. Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the community and the individuals who live in them. For this assignment you will be required to serve 4 hours of community service at an agency of your choosing. You will be responsible for gathering the required documentation to prove that you did serve your required hours at the specific location. After completing the service you will be required to turn in the documentation and reflect on your service learning in a short answer essay exam online.  When answering these questions you must answer in complete thoughts and complete sentences.  Each question will be worth a certain amount of points totaling 100 points for this assignment.  Here is a small list of some possible places you could chose to volunteer. Please check with your professor if you have an idea of a place you would like to volunteer to make sure it will be applicable to this assignment.

Snack pack for kids

High plains food bank

Faith City mission

Kid’s café

City Church

Family Support Services

Eveline Rivers

Dove Creek Equine Rescue

Hope and Healing place

Harrington Cancer Center (kids unit)

Nursing home care, home health, hospice

CPS Rainbow Room

Here are the questions you will be required to answer in your essay exam.  Please be sure you pay attention to the specific questions and the required word length for each question.  Please study the rubrics for each question; this information will help you better answer the questions. You are allowed to use sources from your agency or online sources to help you answer these questions.

1. Describe some of the history of the agency where you selected to volunteer.  What is the name of the agency/organization? Where is it located? What does your agency/organization do? You are required to research online about your chosen organization.  This question must be a minimum of 100 words. (10 points)

Criteria	Exceeds Expectation	Needs Improvement	Does not meet expectations
Knowledge	4 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to each of the parts of the question identified in the assignment.  It provides evidence that the student has diligently researched the history of the agency.	3 Points Does not address all of the parts of the questions in the assignment.  It provides minimal evidence that the student has diligently researched the history of the agency.	1 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment.  It does not provide evidence that the student researched the history of the agency.
Organization	3 Points Information is clearly organized.	2 Points Information is loosely organized.	1 Points Information is present, but very difficult to understand due to poor organization.
Mechanics	3 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.	2 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question with major errors.	1 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.

 

2. What social problem is your agency working on and what specific intervention are they using?  This question must be a minimum of 100 words. (10 points)

Criteria	Exceeds Expectation	Needs Improvement	Does not meet expectations
Knowledge	4 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to the question identified in the assignment.  It provides evidence that the student has diligently identified the tasks and worked alongside the staff at the chosen agency.	3 Points Does not address the question in the assignment.  It provides minimal evidence that the student has diligently identified the tasks and worked alongside the staff at the chosen agency.	1 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment.  It does not provide evidence that the student has identified the tasks and worked alongside the staff at the chosen agency.
Organization	3 Points Information is clearly organized.	2 Points Information is loosely organized.	1 Points Information is present, but very difficult to understand due to poor organization.
Mechanics	3 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.	2 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question with major errors.	1 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.

 

3. How does your time serving in the community influence your ideas and perceptions about the city of Amarillo and the people who live here?  This question must be a minimum of 100 words. (20 points)

Criteria	Exceeds Expectation	Needs Improvement	Does not meet expectations
Knowledge	8 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to the question identified in the assignment.  It provides evidence that the student has diligently reflected on experiences, prior knowledge and new knowledge learned.	6 Points Does not address the question in the assignment.  It provides minimal evidence that the student has diligently reflected on experiences, prior knowledge and new knowledge learned.	1 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment.  It does not provide evidence that the student has reflected on experiences, prior knowledge and new knowledge learned.
Organization	6 Points Information is clearly organized.	4 Points Information is loosely organized.	1 Points Information is present, but very difficult to understand due to poor organization.
Mechanics	6 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.	4 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question with major errors.	1 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.

 

4. Relate what you have learned in the readings and class discussion to your experience in your agency.  Specifically, you must relate at least 2 specific concepts from your textbook in this class to your experience in your agency. You MUST reference in the body of your paper the sources that you used with the specific page number.  For example, if you used page 35 in the textbook Exploring Psychology by Myers, indicate in the body of your paper that you used this text and the page number: (Myers, 2014 p. 35).  This question must be a minimum of 200 words. (50 points)

	Exceeds Expectation	Needs Improvement	Does not meet expectations
Knowledge	30 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to each part of the question identified in the assignment.  It provides evidence that the student has diligently applied or related concepts from at least 2 specific concepts from their textbook to their experience in their agency.	20 Points Does not address all of the parts of question in the assignment.  It provides minimal evidence of the student’s reflective thought.  There is only minimal indication that the student applied or related 1 concept from their textbook in this class to their experience in their agency.	1 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment.  It does not provide evidence of the student’s reflective thought.  There is no indication that the student applied or related any concepts from their textbook in this class to their experience in their agency.
Organization	10 Points Information is clearly organized.	7 Points Information is loosely organized.	1 Points Information is present, but very difficult to understand due to poor organization.
Mechanics	10 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.  And the student referenced the concepts they used in their paper with the specific page number from their text.	7 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question with major errors.  And the student referenced the concepts they used in their paper with the specific page number from their text.	1 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used through the answer to the question. The student did not reference the concepts they used in their paper with the specific page number from their text.

 

5. Will you continue to volunteer? What impact do you hope to have by continuing to volunteer at your selected agency?  If you choose not to volunteer at your selected agency, then describe and discuss in DETAIL, ONE ACTION STEP that you would be willing to do to apply some aspect of “social responsibility” that you learned in your volunteer work in your life.  This question must be a minimum of 100 words. (10 points)

Criteria	Exceeds Expectation	Needs Improvement	Does not meet expectations
Knowledge	4 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to the question identified in the assignment.  It provides evidence that the student has diligently described the impact he or she hopes to have by continuing to volunteer at their selected agency.  If the student chose not to volunteer at their selected agency, then he or she described in detail one action step that they would be willing to do to apply some aspect of “social responsibility” that they learned in their volunteer work in your life.	3 Points Does not address all of the parts of the questions in the assignment.  It provides minimal evidence that the student has diligently described the impact he or she hopes to have by continuing to volunteer at their selected agency.  If the student chose not to volunteer at their selected agency, then he or she described in detail one action step that they would be willing to do to apply some aspect of “social responsibility” that they learned in their volunteer work in your life.	1 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment.  It does not provide evidence that the student has described the impact he or she hopes to have by continuing to volunteer at their selected agency.  If the student chose not to volunteer at their selected agency, then he or she described in detail one action step that they would be willing to do to apply some aspect of “social responsibility” that they learned in their volunteer work in your life.
Organization	3 Points Information is clearly organized.	2 Points Information is loosely organized.	1 Points Information is present, but very difficult to understand due to poor organization.
Mechanics	3 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.	2 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question with major errors.	1 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question.

 

7) Glass Castles integration of social work principles (100)

Write an  in depth review of The Glass Castle tying it in with topics discussed in the text and discussed in class.This should be application of social work knowledge gained during the semester from out text, lectures, movies and guests.  Apply your knowledge to specific information in Glass Castle.  For example, you might find passages in the text book about poverty, child abuse/neglect, or about alcoholism and relate how the family fits this information or might be an exception to this information.  You may quote directly from the text or paraphrase information from the text in your own words.  In either case, make sure it is clearly stated in your paper that you are making reference to some information from the text or information presented in class (such as lecture, films, guest speakers).  The emphasis should be in making comparisons between The Glass Castle and topics from the text or other information from class.  DO NOT SIMPLY WRITE A REVIEW OF THIS BOOK. 

Use APA style in citing references.  In APA, you put the author and publication year at the end of a sentence where you have made a reference.  For example, if you wrote the following sentence, this is how you would cite it: Our text book points out that families have problems when role boundaries are unclear (Dubois and Miley 2014).  At the end of your paper, list your references on the reference page, following APA  style.  (Author Surname first, in alphabetical order. Title of book. Year published.)  You can find more information online about APA.  Make sure you have all pieces of APA,cover page, running heading,page numbers, reference page,and cited work in text.  

If you only write a summary of the book, you will fail this assignment.  You must make reference to topics learned in our text and/or in class back to The Glass Castle.  Your paper should be five to six full pages, double-spaced.   100 points

IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS YOU WILL FAIL THIS CLASS!

Attendance: 100 points

Attendance will be taken every class period.  Students are expected to be on time and attend class regularly.  After two absences, five points per absence will be deducted from your attendance total.  Coming to class more than a few minutes late (after roll is taken) or leaving class early will count as half these points in deduction.  If you come to class after roll has been taken, it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you are here.  Also using your cell phone in class, sleeping, reading a book or materials not associated with this class, frequently leaving the classroom to step outside, or engaging in extensive personal conversations during class may result in being counted as absent.  You may gain 5 points for perfect attendance.  

 

Example of how the grading system works:

Attendance:  100 points

Exams:  300 points 

Quizzes:  100 points

Assignments:  500 points

Attendance

Attendance:

Attendance will be taken every class period.  Students are expected to be on time and attend class regularly, as well as participate in class. 

If you come to class after roll has been taken, it is your responsibility to make sure that I know you are here.  Also using your cell phone in class, sleeping, reading a book or materials not associated with this class, frequently leaving the classroom to step outside, or engaging in extensive personal conversations during class may result in being counted as absent.  

 

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